Pearce quits USAC to return to competition

USA Cycling has announced Colby Pearce has resigned as its endurance track coach to return to competitive cycling. The 2004 United States Olympic Team member will continue to coach for the Colorado Velodrome Association, but his primary emphasis will be on returning to world-class competition in the madison and points race events on the track.

"Racing is where my heart is at the moment," Pearce explained. "It's still in my blood. Each time I was at a World Cup race or the World Championships as a coach, I found my mind drifting back to the same place. I still feel that I can effectively compete at that level and be successful."

Pearce last competed in 2005 where he took a silver medal in the points race at the Moscow UCI World Cup round. His competitive results include 13 career UCI Track World Cup medals, a bronze medal in the 2003 Pan American Games and eight USA Cycling national titles.

"If I don't make it to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the result is that I pushed other riders to raise the level of their game and perhaps win a medal, then that's as much as I could have done as a coach in the first place," Pearce continued. "Either way, I think it's a win-win situation."

USAC director of Athletics Pat McDonough was optimistic about Pearce's decision, describing it as a win-win situation for the governing body.

"From USA Cycling's perspective, our loss is also our gain," commented McDonough. "On one hand we are losing a tremendous coach, but on the other we're gaining an athlete capable of winning medals at international-level events. Additionally, his presence on the track will undoubtedly raise the level of competition and bring out the best in all of our other men's endurance athletes.